Flossing your teeth can be tricky when you have braces, but there’s no need to be discouraged. With some patience and practice, Dr. Cabal says you can easily get the hang of it.
Why do I need to floss?
Wearing braces makes it even more essential to floss your teeth everyday because of food particles trapped in the braces, bands and wires. If you don’t remove this debris, you increase the risk of cavities and gum disease. Flossing ensures your newly realigned teeth will look great.
How do I floss?
Be prepared to spend more time on your oral care while you have braces. Although it can be difficult to get the floss under the archwire, there are ways to get it done.
- Use waxed floss, as unwaxed is more likely to get caught and shred in your braces. Pull off about 18 inches of floss.
- Take the floss and carefully thread it under the archwire of the braces.
- Gently pull the floss between your teeth and underneath the gums using a back-and-forth motion.
- Remove the floss and rethread it under the archwire to pass between the next pair of teeth.
- Repeat this procedure until you have passed the floss between all of your teeth.
Are there alternatives to traditional flossing?
If you don’t want to floss the conventional way, there are a few tools available:
- Floss Threader: This tool makes it easier to get the floss under the archwire but it can take longer to floss your teeth as you have to rethread the floss for each pair of teeth.
- Proxy Brush: This small, slim brush can be used to clean under the wire and between the teeth as well as stimulate the gum tissue between them.
- Water Flosser: This device shoots a small stream of pressurized water between the teeth to dislodge trapped food. However, not all water flossers effectively remove plaque. Ask Dr. Cabal to recommend an efficient water flosser.
About Your Fort Worth Orthodontist
Dr. Ciro Cabal is a dedicated family orthodontist with a lifelong passion for providing exceptional dental care to patients of all ages from Fort Worth, Azle, Saginaw, Springtown, Weatherford, Haslet, and surrounding communities. To schedule an appointment, call Lake Country Orthodontics today at (817) 236-7846.
